Pituitary-gonadal dysfunction in uremic men on maintenance hemodialysis

Abstract EN

Objective: To examine serum prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in male patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and their roles in the pathogenesis of infertility encountered in patients with CRF.

Design: Cross–sectional study.

Setting: Artificial Kidney and Dialysis Unit at Ibn-Sena teaching hospital, Mosul, during the period from July to September 2002.

Subjects: Thirty male patients with CRF undergoing maintenance HD and 30 apparently healthy volunteers (control group) were included in this study.

Method: Complete history and physical examination was performed for every patient included in this study with special emphasis on duration of illness, marital status and fertility.

Serum PRL, LH, FSH levels were measured; unpaired t-test was used to assess the difference in the mean of serum level of these hormones between patients with CRF and control group.

Results: Serum PRL, LH and FSH levels were significantly higher (P< 0.0001, P< 0.0001 and P< 0.0001) in patients with CRF in comparison with the control group.

Conclusion: Abnormally high levels of serum PRL, LH and FSH are common in patients with CRF undergoing maintenance HD.

This abnormality may play a role in the pathogenesis of infertility in these patients.